In this class, the research paper is defined as a literary analysis, that is, a paper that explains and interprets a specific idea about one of the texts assigned in the course. The goal of this assignment is to argue a particular point of view that will broaden and deepen an understanding of your selected text. Therefore, your objective is to support a thesis, which is a focused argument with evidence. Your interpretation addresses meaning in the work itself, but your paper must be developed and supported with evidence from the text you have selected, the primary source, and also from secondary sources, such as scholarly articles and books.
Most of your research will have been completed with the Annotated Bibliography Assignment. However, you do not have to use all the sources you cited in this bibliography, but you may need to add new sources, depending on your papers focus. You can learn more about conducting research here.
Requirements for the Assignment
Your essay will propose a central idea (thesis) that is supported and developed with several body paragraphs that grow systematically out of the central idea. Everything in the essay must be directly related to the central idea and must contribute to the readers understanding of that central idea.
Both the primary source, the selected text, and secondary sources are required to support the thesis.
Four to seven secondary, scholarly sources are required. Do not use unreliable online sources, such as Wikipedia or SparkNotes. Only scholarly sources are accepted.
The final paper will be five to seven pages in length, not counting the Works Cited page.
Everything in the paper, including citation and the Works Cited page (see attachment for an example), must follow current MLA guidelines.
The final paper will be typed and double-spaced with one-inch margins. Use a 12 point font, such as Times New Roman, and black ink.
Submit your paper as a Word document; do not put your paper in an adobe PDF file.
The final paper will be well organized, cohesive, and grammatically/ mechanically correct.
Give your paper a title.
The final essay must be submitted through the courses assignment tool.
